Three more Illini selected in NFL draft

Illinois defensive tackle Akeem Spence's draft day gave his little brother a scare.

"I almost threw him out of the chair," he said of 7-year-old Andre. "He was happy. He doesn't know what he was happy for."

Spence knows.

The Buccaneers selected him in the fourth round, 100th overall, Saturday in the NFL draft. The Bucs traded up 12 spots with the Raiders to nab Spence.

"It's a sigh of relief," he said, noting he and his father jumped around "like 3-year-olds" when he got the call. "They told me I was their favorite D-tackle. I believed it. They actually came through."

The Steelers took cornerback Terry Hawthorne in the fifth round with the 150th pick. Plagued by injuries, he also played wide receiver at Illinois but figures to stick to defense with the Steelers.

The Patriots made defensive end/outside linebacker Michael Buchanan, a Chicago native, the 226th overall pick in the seventh round. After registering 71/2 sacks as a junior, he recorded only 41/2 during Illinois' dismal 2012 season.

Spence left Illinois with a year of eligibility remaining but was a three-year starter.

What excited him most about joining the Bucs is the short drive for his family from Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

"That's the biggest thing," Spence said.

He said he was motivated by criticism about his pass rushing and tried to show his athleticism at the NFL scouting combine and at Illinois' pro day.

The Bucs acknowledged that they wanted to see improvement from him in that area but his play was impressive overall.

"They liked the way I got off the ball," he said. "The way I played with leverage and a lot of power. They believe I can be a better pass rusher getting uphill more."

Spence followed offensive guard Hugh Thornton, whom the Colts selected in the third round Friday.